13-year old starts produce business

Monday

Jul 31, 2017 at 5:00 PM

While many 13-year old boys think of conquering video games, playing in sports tournaments or simple having fun in the summer sun, Max Scheske had different plans.

While many 13-year old boys think of conquering video games, playing in sports tournaments or simple having fun in the summer sun, Max Scheske had different plans. He wanted to start a business. Spurred by the fortuitous finding and reading of his older brother’s book, “The $100 Startup,” he started talking in earnest with his business lawyer father, Eric Scheske. The elder Scheske was impressed by Max’s enthusiasm, but assumed it wouldn’t last. “I finally asked him,” Eric said, ‘If I grew extra greens in my garden, like lettuce and spinach, would you be interested in trying to sell it?’” Max jumped on it. Then, planning began. They formed a company, MAXimum Greens LLC, purchased a lot last spring on Arthur Street in Sturgis, broke ground, then started a produce-stand business. “The separation of responsibilities is pretty simple,” Eric said. “I’m on the production side. He’s on the sales side. I do almost everything at the beginning stages, like planning and planting, Max does almost everything at the end, like packaging and deliveries. We work together on harvesting.” Although initial sales took place at the produce stand, the father-son company now has four points of sale. “We have the produce stand,” Max said, “but we’ve had more success at the weekly farmers market in front of TSC in Sturgis. We also do home and business deliveries, plus we are providing greens to local restaurants.” The company takes pride in offering clean produce. “Everything is washed twice, by complete immersion,” Max said. “We soak every batch for five minutes, letting the dirt settle to the bottom, scoop out the produce, drain the water, then do it again.” The company offers only non-GMO products. “We grow everything from non-GMO seeds,” Eric said. “And although we haven’t paid the fees to get our operation certified organic, we’re pretty sure it is. We use no artificial chemicals at any stage of production. We use kelp meal, bone meal, fish emulsion, compost and other natural fertilizers. Weeding is done by hand and tarps. Pests are fought with natural sprays.” Currently, the company is offering chard, mustard greens and its colorful signature salad mix, comprised of at six different types of lettuce. Starting in August, it plans to add an assortment of unusual lettuce, like “Joker” and “Jester,” as well as Chinese kale (“great for huge kale chips,” Eric says), beet greens and cherry tomatoes.